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HOYJ 

TO 

BECOME 

AN 

ENGINEER 

BY EARL LEWIS. 




Cop y riarhted 1905, 
By earl lewis. 



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UBRARYof OOfv'fiRESsI 


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MAR .«0 


1905 


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THIS booklet has been published with 
the purpose of dispelling the haze 
which seems to surround the quali- 

" fications, duties, and general sala- 

ries of the engineering professions. If it 
should be the means of placing a few on the 
right track and a great many off the wrong 
track, it will have fulfilled its mission. 

Experience proves that a great many 
young men prepare for the engineering pro- 
fessions who have no engineering ability, and 
who would do better in some other line. 
The fact that a boy displays an interest in 
the working of machinery or in the opera- 
tion of a dynamo does not indicate that he is 
destined to become an engineer. If the same 
boy, however, has shown himself apt at 
mathematics, and is interested in general 
science, he may safely take up one of the 
engineering professions, and with hard work 
will achieve success. 

The first clew to engineering ability is 
aptness at mathematics. The foundation of 
engineering is mathematics, and he who has 
no ability in this subject will never make a 
success as an expert ergineer. 

A great many young men go to hear popu- 
lar lectures on Electrical EJngineering or 
Chemistry, see some fiashy experiments pe^ 



formed on tlie ''Wizard Herrman" plan and 
go home with the idea that engineering is 
the only profession that appeals to them. 
Others read advertisements in the papers of 
Correspondence Schools, which declare sol- 
emnly that any young man who will employ 
his evenings studying as they direct for a 
few months or longer, will be qualified for 
the position of Electrical or Mechanical En- 
gineer at a salary of about $1,200.00 to be- 
gin, etc.,, etc. That a great many of these 
young men are ignorant ot what the profes- 
sion is can be verified by the fact that in 
New York the second-hand book stores are 
stocked with the reference libraries of the 
Engineering Courses of these sichools, 
which were undoubtedly disposed of by in- 
efficient students. 

Another error which a great many young 
men make is to imagine that because they 
are going to take up a technical study they 
do not require any general culture. They do 
not look into the fact that an engineer is a 
man in charge of other men, that one of his 
main duties is to prepare reports on the op- 
eration of machines or the situation of docks, 
etc., and all this requires a good general ed- 
ucation. In order to lead other men one 
must command their respect^ and this can 
only be done by showing superiority in every 
way. 

In regard to the best method of preparing 
for and getting Into the profession, it must 
be borne in mind that no man ican expect to 



obtain any situation of responsibility in these 
lines who has not had practical experience 
in field work for Civil Engineering, or in 
handling dynamos or machinery for Electri- 
cal or Mechanical Engineering. To quote 
from an article written by pne of the best 
known Mechanical Engineers in the country: 

"There is no royal road to the position of 
Mechanical or Electrical Engineer. One 
must start at the very bottom and work his 
way up, and this means work^ plenty of hard 
work and dirty work. After one has mas- 
tered the practical side of the profession 
theory can come later. But no man can ex- 
pect to direct other men to do things which 
he, himself, is unable to do. Theory with- 
out practice is worthless, and expensive ma- 
chinery is not going to be intrusted to men 
who merely gained their knowledge from 
books." 

It makes no difference how well a person 
knows the theory of the subject, there is a 
wide gap between reading how to connect up 
a dynamo, by seeing an elaborate drawing 
and cut of the machine, and actually han- 
dling the machine itself. It is all very clear 
to a person who has had the practical expe- 
rience, but very obscure to a person who has 
not had the experience. 

The man who, for the first time, handles 
a switch of an electrical circuit of even 120 
or 240 volts is bound to do so in a very gin- 
gerly manner, and with an "I don't know 



what is going to happen next" look, which 
ifi hardly calculated to inspire his superior 
with confidence in him. 

Young men would do well to pause and 
consider these facts before entering upon 
a purely theoretical course of instruction. 

As regards to whether practice should pre- 
cede or follow theory, thir is a difficult mat- 
ter to decide. The consensus of opinion of 
engineers Is that both should go hand in 
hand, but it must be taken into considera- 
tion that the practice a student gets at the 
universities is not the same as the practice 
in real engineering. The student will not 
realize this until he leaves the college and 
takes up actual work, where there may be 
no solutions to the problems given, and 
where no learned professor is on hand to 
tide one over the difficult passages to an 
ultimate solution. 

The author's opinion is that it is better 
for a student, after leaving high school, 
where a good training has been received in 
mathematics and general science, to take up 
actual work in a machine shop, electrical 
works, or in field work, and then, after a 
few years* hard work complete his theoreti- 
cal course. He will then know what parts 
of his studies to pay the most attention to, 
will realize how little he knows, and will be 
continually alert to know the reasons for 
the various things he has observed in hig 



practical work. Practice makes a man hun- 
gry to learn the "whyness" of thingsr. 

The various night schools of engineering 
in the country are working on this method. 
During the day a man works at the practi- 
cal part of the profession; at night he at- 
tends the school and learns the theory, and 
he accomplishes more in the two hours 
spent in the night school than a great many 
students* studying six hours a day who have 
not his enthusiasm., and to whom the study 
has become routine work. 

In regard to the salaries paid Engineers, 
these vary so much that it is difficult to ob- 
tain authentic information on the subject. 

A Mechanical Engineer of experience re 
ceives, as an average, from $150.00 to 
$250.00 per month. 

The average salary of the Electrical En- 
gineer falls below this, and they average 
from $125.00 to $200.00 per month. 

Civil Engineers, when in the employ of 
the City or State, are, as a general rule, paid 
better and have shorter hours than either 
Mechanical or Electrical Engineers in the 
employ of corporations. 

In regard to men employed in Power Sta- 
tions, the following wages are paid: 

Oilers receive as an average $1.50 to $1.75 
per day for a working day of eight hours, 
but the work is hard and a little dangerous, 
as their duty is to feel the different parts of 
the machine while running, to ascertain 



whether the parts are becoming hot, and to 
keep the machines at all times well lubri- 
cated. 

Dynamo Cleaners receive about the same 
pay as Oilers. 

Dynamo Tenders average f2.25 per day, 
but the position will only be intrusted to 
those who have had experience in handling 
the machines. 

Switchboard men are paid from $2.50 to 
$3.50 per day, according to their experience. 

Foremen of the sub-stations of the Power 
Houses average $100.00 per month. 

Draughtsmen in the different engineering 
lines are paid from $12.00 to $35.00 or more 
per week. To a man who is apt at figures, 
and can do neat and accurate work with 
good lettering, the position pays quite well 
at the start, and the work is cleaner and 
easier than starting from the practical side. 
There is the disadvantage, however, that 
there is no opportunity for practical engi- 
neering work and consequently the ad- 
vancement is slower. 

Bridge Draughtsmen receive a salary of 
from $1,200.00 to $1,800.00 per year. Junior 
Bridge Draughtsmen from $900 00 to $1,200.00 
per year. 

The minor positions in the Civil Engi- 
neering line, under City or State employ, 
pay well— in fact, much better than the mi- 



nor positions in the Mechanical or Electrical 
Engineering lines. The applicants for all 
City^ State or Government positions must 
pass a Civil Service Examination, and those 
who have the highest rating get the posi- 
tions. For the minor positions an examina- 
tion is given in arithmetic, hut it will be 
found that this subject is not as simple as 
some students imagine. There are some 
very catchy questions in practical mensura- 
tion given, and an applicant should be well 
prepared on this subject. 

Students who are preparing for Civil Ser- 
vice positions will find it to their advantage 
to obtain the "Chief," a weekly, published 
in New York at 53 Park Row, and which is 
devoted to the Civil Service, and contains 
from time to time questions: from previous 
examinations and other instructive informa- 
tion. 

Regarding Colleges giving courses in Engi- 
neering, it is presumed that these are too 
well known to receive comment here. It may 
be stated, however, that Cornell, the Massa- 
chusetts Institute of Technology and Stev- 
ens' Institute are held in high esteem by the 
engineering profession. 

For short courses, the following schools 
can be recommended: 

Cooper Institute of New York City, whidh 
gives a five-year course in engineering sci- 
ence in their night school, thus allowing the 
student to work at the profession during the 
day. 



Pratt Institute, of Brooklyn, N. Y.^ wliich 
gives two-year day courses in Applied Elec- 
tricity and Machine Design, both of which 
are excellent courses. This school also 
gives evening courses. 

The American Institute, of New York, 
which gives a short evening course of three 
years in Applied Electricity. 



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